Shuten Doji.(Translation)

ALONG TIME AGO in Japan, a divine country from the time heaven and earth were divided, and where Buddhism thrived, imperial rule from the time of the first emperor (1) to the Engi era (901-923) (2) was endowed with righteous authority, sincere honesty, and compassion for the people in ways unsurpassed by the Chinese emperors, Yao and Shun. (3)

Then, strange events began to take place. (4) Demons living on Mt. Oe of Tanba province (5) began to abduct numerous people at night from throughout the land. In the capital, many people, particularly comely maidens of seventeen or eighteen years of age, were kidnapped.

Of all the recorded tales of demonic abduction, the one that affected the retired emperor's middle counselor Ikeda Kunitaka was especially heart-wrenching. Kunitaka enjoyed the retired emperor's favor, and had a home filled with treasures. He also had a daughter of divine beauty. (6) It was said that anyone who encountered this girl's charms, either in person or through another's account, fell in love with her. The parents' love for the princess was most extraordinary. One evening, the graceful princess disappeared. Kunitaka's anguish, not to mention the grief of his wife, was indescribable (7)--nurses, maids, and all who happened to be in the dwelling were thrown into calamitous pandemonium.

Overcome with grief, Kunitaka summoned his servant Sakon and said, "I have heard recently that there is a reputable diviner named Muraoka no Masatoki (8) in the capital. Bring him here." Sakon at once went to fetch Masatoki to bring him to Kunitaka's mansion. Pitiable and without concern for his reputation, Kunitaka and his wife received Masatoki immediately. (9) "Hear me Masatoki," Kunitaka spoke, "Parents with even five or ten children would not neglect any one of them [let alone me with only one child]. Last night, my only child was abducted and we know nothing of her whereabouts. She is thirteen years old this year and since she was born, my wife and I have doted on her. We even have nurse chaperones standing guard when she descends from her veranda to protect her from strong winds. If this is an act of a demon, why did the demon not take me, too?" Kunitaka pressed his face to his sleeve [to catch his tears]. Kunitaka piled up tens of thousands of coins in front of the fortune teller, pleading with him, "Seer of fortunes, please tell me where my daughter is and I'll reward you with great treasures. Please divine carefully?' The masterly Masatoki took out a scroll. After consulting the text, the seer triumphantly clapped his hands together, certain he had ascertained the princess's whereabouts. "Your princess' disappearance is the work of demons living on Mt. Oe of Tanba province. Her life is safe. In proper measure, I will pray for her safety, so please rest assured. After careful examination, the divination indicates to me that this abduction occurred because you failed to keep a promise to Kannon when you sought her blessing for the birth of the child. If you appeal to Kannon now with the appropriate prayers, your daughter will return to the capital soon," and with that clairvoyant revelation, Masatoki took his leave from the Kunitaka mansion.

Kunitaka and his wife were overcome with woe after hearing Masatoki's prognostications. Still in tears, Kunitaka went to the imperial palace to report to the Throne. In the assembly of the emperor, with court nobles and ministers gathered, palace officials discussed Kunitaka's plight, but could offer no definitive consensus on a course of action. Among them, the Chief Imperial Advisor reminded the gathered that, "during the reign of Emperor Saga (r. 809-823), a similar incident happened. The Great Priest Kobo (10) subdued the demon with his magical powers, expelling the demon from our land. If your majesty would summon Minamoto no Raiko to the palace and command him to subjugate the demon, the demon will surely be frightened of Raiko and his lieutenants, Sadamitsu, (11) Suetake, (12) Tsuna, (13) Kintoki, (14) and Hosho." (15) The emperor agreed, issuing an imperial proclamation charging Raiko with the task of defeating the evil demons. Raiko immediately came to the palace and was granted an audience. "Hear ye Raiko, demons dwell on Mt. Oe of Tanba province. They are doing wrong. In my divine country it is inconceivable that demons would inhabit even the most remote region to cause distress, let alone in the vicinity of the capital. Crush them."

The warrior Raiko was very moved to receive the imperial command, reasoning, "Demons are transformers--if they learn that some punitive force is coming, they will turn into dust and leaves, and it will be hard for us ordinary humans to find them. Yet, how can I disobey an imperial order?" Hurrying home, Raiko called his men to his house. At their gathering Raiko warned them all, "We won't be a match for the mighty demons. Let us pray to the deities and Buddhas for their help. That will be the best." And with that suggestion, Raiko and Hosho proceeded to Yahata Shrine, (16) Tsuna and Kintoki went to Sumiyoshi Shrine, (17) while Sadamitsu and Suetake prayed at the Kumano Shrine. (18) All offered fervent prayers and since Japan was a divine country where Buddhism thrived, each deity listened to their prayers. Nothing can be more joyous than the reception of their prayers, they thought, and they all went home content. Later Raiko and his lieutenants gathered to discuss plans for dealing with the Mt. Oe demons, but the discussion ended without a solution.

Raiko took charge of the mission's tactical planning, recommending that the six warriors disguise themselves as mountain ascetics and pretend to be lost. He reasoned if only they could locate the demon's base in Tanba province, defeating the demons would be easy, whatever military strategy they would employ. To that end, Raiko suggested, "Each of us must fabricate an ascetic's pannier in which to conceal our armor. What do you think?" With his men in agreement, the warriors set out to make their panniers. Concealed within Raiko's pannier was his vermilion armor called randen gusari, a helmet of the same vermilion thread named Lion King and his splendid sword Chisui, which was two-foot-one in length. Hidden in Hosho's pannier was his purple armor, a helmet of the same color, and his two-foot-long halberd, dubbed Cutting Rocks. Tsuna's pannier held his yellow-green armor with matching helmet and a sword called Cutting Demon. (19) Likewise, Sadamitsu, Suetake, and Kintoki used their panniers to hide their battle armor that was identifiable by color, helmets, and swords. In each pannier, sake, flint, and oilpaper were put atop the battle vestments. (20) Accordingly, each of the men donned the attire of a mountain ascetic: each had a round cap [tokin [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]], and dressed in humble linen cloths, each carried a conch shell, a stick, and a striking sword. (21) While in concentrated prayer to the deities and Buddhas of Japan, the party left the capital for Tanba province. The warriors' resolve would terrify any dark force. (22)